MTLNOVEL Volume 1 Chapter 81 - Call Yoshino-san (Okita-kun ver)
“That amount won’t even weigh 10 kilos. There were 30 skeleton swords, you know.”
Kaede-chan, who had overheard the previous phone call, comments.
“Hmm, well, 10 of those I hunted alone in the morning, so probably around 20 in total.”
“Either way, you’re presumed to be carrying at least 20 kilos. Add in the other stuff, and it’s neatly rounded up to 50 kilos.”
“I’ll make a note to mention that next time.”
I had completely forgotten about the capacity of my item bag. Mistake, mistake.
“Be careful again tomorrow.”
“I know, I know.”
“Ah, would you like some coffee?”
Kaede-chan stands up to ask.
“I’ll have some, thanks. You’re so kind, Kaede-chan!”
“Right?”
Pleased, Kaede-chan heads to the kitchen and soon returns with two cups, which she places on the coffee table in front of the sofa where I’m sitting. Then she sits down next to me.
“Is Okita-senpai next?”
“Exactly.”
I take out a TS potion, gulp it down, and revert back to Okita-kun.
“It’s fine to talk this time.”
“Well, I don’t want to be a nuisance, so I’ll stay quiet.”
Kaede-chan says this as she cools her coffee.
“Alright, let’s make the call.”
Now that I’m back to being Okita-kun, I take out Okita-kun’s smartphone and call Yoshino-san. This time, the call connects on the first ring.
“Hello, is this Okita-kun?”
It’s Yoshino-san, obviously.
“Hello, thank you for yesterday. It was good to work together.”
…
“I was told by my wife-to-be that respect is important.”
…
“Is it okay to call now? Are you at work or anything?”
“No worries, I’m off today.”
I already knew that; I had heard it earlier.
“Actually, about joining yesterday’s party, I was thinking it would be okay if it’s limited.”
“In what sense?”
“I have a desire to do things solo sometimes. I’m not very social, and I feel intimidated being around high-level, high-ranked players.”
“You feel intimidated, even though you laughed at my swordsmanship level?”
…
“That was inexcusable of me… being level 7 and E-rank, I got carried away.”
…
“I have Nanapon, and I can also use the Air Hammer.”
…
“How about this, I stop that character? It’s a bit too self-deprecating…”
Annoying, huh?
“Alright, I’ll stop. Do you know any good places? I’ve been looking online, but I can’t decide.”
“How about the Mireiyu Highway?”
I also researched it; it’s a rather dull place with only roads and grasslands.
“What’s the reason?”
“There are no monsters that use magic. The only thing you’d need to worry about is a bird called Great Eagle, which I can take down with my magic.”
I see…
“Yoshino-san, hold on a moment… Kaede-chan, what do you think?”
I put the call on hold to ask for Kaede-chan’s opinion.
“It’s not a bad idea. Actually, when it seemed like Elenora-san and Nanaka-chan couldn’t go to the Diana Mine, I started thinking about it. The monsters there are, as Yoshino-san mentioned, the Great Eagle and High Wolves, which are beasts.”
Kaede-chan had also been considering it. As expected of my dedicated advisor.
“What should I be cautious about?”
“As Yoshino-san mentioned, the main concern would be the aerial ambushes from the Great Eagle. Other than that, the area is quite open, so ambushes are unlikely. Let’s first go there with Yoshino-san to get a feel for the place.”
“Understood.”
I take the phone off hold.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I apologize to Yoshino-san as I resume the call.
“No problem. But what was it?”
“I was consulting with Kaede-chan.”
“Ah, you two live together, right? So you’re both off today?”
“Yes, Kaede-chan is my advisor, so we were discussing future plans.”
“I see. So what will it be?” Yoshino-san asks if we’re okay with the Mireiyu Highway.
“How about we go there together once? I’ve done some research and consulted with Kaede-chan, but I think it’s best to see it for ourselves.”
Since I’m the one making the request, I revert back to polite speech.
“Sure, let’s go together. Ah, would it be okay if it’s a three-person party with Lin, like yesterday?”
Lin-san, huh… She seemed nice enough, so no issues there.
“Yes, please.”
“When would be good?”
I know it would be bad form to say I can’t make it tomorrow because of prior commitments.
“Are you free sometime this week?”
“Hmm, tomorrow is no good, and the day after that I have a party adventure… How about Friday?”
Friday, huh… That works for me.
I glance at Kaede-chan, who raises both hands above her head in a circle pose. Since Kaede-chan has the day off, I do too.
“Friday works for me as well, so let’s go with that.”
“Alright. Same as yesterday, starting in the morning?”
Morning? I feel sleepy… But the person next to me nods emphatically.
“Let’s start in the morning.”
“Okay. Let’s meet at the gate at 9 a.m. It’s a safe spot, as there are other adventurers and fewer monsters.”
“Understood. Please extend my regards to Lin-san as well.”
…
“Alright then, see you on Friday.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Yoshino-san says this and hangs up.
“Great! We got the go-ahead!”
“That’s good to hear,” Kaede-chan nods with a benevolent smile.
“If things look okay when we go on Friday, I’ll go there with Nanapon too.”
“Speaking of which, I wonder what Nanaka-chan will do about her disguise?”
“Who knows? I’d laugh if she actually shows up in a Hyottoko or skeleton mask.”
I highly doubt that would happen…
“What do you think?”
“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see. Oh, and can you lend me some clothes for tomorrow? I’m meeting Yoshino-san as Elenora, and I don’t have any clothes.”
Yoshino-san also told me to ditch the black robe.
“Hmm, considering that you might need this again, why don’t we buy clothes specifically for Elenora?”
“Clothes, huh…”
Borrowing from Kaede-chan every time feels wrong, and she’d probably get tired of it too.
“Kaede-chan, could you go buy something appropriate? I have no clue.”
“Sure! Oh, in that case, let’s go shopping now. It’ll be a shopping date.”
“Great! Let’s get ready and go then.”
“Okay!”
It’s shopping under the guise of a date, but I’m excited.
Actually, this turns out to be our first date.